Ferrari, Aston Martin, to Unveil High-Performance Vehicles

By

Jim Motavalli

March 5, 2018 2:26 p.m. ET

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By

Jim Motavalli

March 5, 2018 2:26 p.m. ET

This year’s Geneva Motor Show—an international must-attend event for auto aficionados—runs from March 8 to 18, and promises to be a celebration of the high-priced performance vehicles known as supercars, with an electric or two thrown in. But even the battery cars will pin your ears back speed-wise.

Here are five debuts, mostly from European automakers, to look out for in the Swiss city by the lake.

Ferrari Pista

Ferrari Pista
Courtesy of Ferrari

Supercar manufacturers are in a horsepower and top speed race, and Ferrari is out to beat everyone with a V-8-powered model (a barely disguised racer) that can hit 211 miles per hour. Under the hood of this new 488 is a 710-horsepower twin-turbo V-8 offering 49 more horsepower than the already potent 488 GTB. That’s an extreme amount of power, more than the storied Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, and it can reach 60 mph in less than three seconds. The new Pista (the name means “track”) is lower, wider, shorter and more aerodynamic than a standard 488 and has lost almost 200 pounds. The price is likely to carry a significant premium over the standard 488 GTB (a US$250,000 car). A figure around US$300,000 has been projected for the new Pista.

Aston Martin Vantage

Aston Martin Vantage
AstonMartin

Is the twin-turbo V-8 becoming a standard for supercars? Well, yes, when they’re not deploying V-12 twin-turbos. The new version of Aston Martin’s venerable Vantage, on the market in early 2019, got itsV-8 engine via Mercedes-Benz’ performance AMG division. The two-seater will join the lineup as the most affordable model in the range. Much is shared with the larger DB11, including the suspension. High performance is the goal—the company says the new Vantage is “the most sporting model in Aston Martin’s series production range.” That new engine is four liters, with the same 503 horsepower as the DB11 V-8, and an eight-speed automatic from transmission specialist ZF. There’s currently no manual gearbox available, but one is supposedly coming. The Vantage has a 3.5-second zero to 60 time, and a top speed of 195 mph. A base price of US$158,081 has been announced, compared to US$201,820 for the 2018 DB11 V-8. But are buyers really looking for a “bargain” from Aston Martin?

Jaguar I-Pace

Jaguar i-pace
JaguarPace

Some observers think Jaguar is gunning for Tesla with its new electric crossover. But when designer Ian Callum was asked if Elon Musk’s Model X had any influence on his thinking, he said, “None whatsoever.” Jaguar Land Rover is probably the last company one would expect to give Tesla a run for the money, since it has no experience with battery electric cars. Instead of twin turbos, it has twin electric motors, producing a combined 394 horsepower and 512 foot pounds of torque. Jaguar thinks it can carry this aluminum-bodied beast to 60 mph in just 4.5 seconds. Car and Driver got a Tesla Model X P90D to that speed in 3.3 seconds, and the P100D is supposedly good for 2.9, but all of these cars are plenty fast.(The I-Pace has a range of 240 miles on a single charge.) It may not be chasing Tesla, but the Jaguar I-Pace is definitely in Tesla territory. The I-Pace will start at US$87,216in Great Britain; U.S. prices aren’t yet available, but the car will go on sale in the U.S. this fall.

McLaren Senna Carbon Theme

McLauren Senna
McLauren

McLaren has been busy of late, and its Geneva display will feature the debut of no fewer than five special-edition versions of the Senna, including one with a unique and rather costly appearance package. Most of the exterior is in raw carbon fiber, with a glossy clear-coat over it. The special treatment adds more than US$400,000 to the cost of a Senna, which currently starts at US$837,000. The Senna, by the way, was named in honor of the race driver Ayrton Senna, and the Carbon Theme uses his racing colors (yellow, green and black) to complement the carbon fiber.The rear-wheel-drive Senna is stock under all that pretty carbon fiber, with the model’s twin-turbocharged four-liter V-8, producing 789 horsepower. But the Carbon Theme package also includes special seven-spoke carbon fiber and aluminum wheels that offer a 10% weight reduction over standard. There are four other Senna themes, but McLaren isn’t saying what they are. Don’t expect subtlety.

Toyota Supra

Toyota Supra
Toyota

The iconic Toyota Supra that was used in the very first “Fast and Furious” film was sold in 2015 for $185,000, giving some hint as to the model’s ongoing potency. Japanese press reports indicate that their home version of the new Supra will be powered by a three-liter turbocharged straight six, producing 330 horsepower. That’s coupled with an eight-speed automatic, producing zero-to-62 mph times of 3.8 seconds. Also possibly headed for the Supra is two-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that will be shared with the next-generation Z4. The Supra is available only as a two-door coupe. No prices have been announced yet.

Ferrari, Aston Martin, to Unveil High-Performance Vehicles

This year’s Geneva Motor Show—an international must-attend event for auto aficionados—runs from March 8 to 18, and promises to be a celebration of the high-priced performance vehicles known as supercars, with an electric or two thrown in.

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